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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: September 9, 2024 <br />TOPIC: Hazard Mitigation Plan Outreach <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Arden Thomas <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct staff to publicize opportunities for public comment on Draft Hazard Mitigation <br />Plan. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Local jurisdictions are required to update their Hazard Mitigation Plan every 5- <br />years to maintain eligibility for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs. <br />• During the past year, Kittitas County has been working with our contractor and 15 <br />additional participating jurisdictions to update this plan. <br />• Public outreach was initiated during the 2023 Kittitas County Fair, and we hosted <br />in -person public meetings in February, 2024. <br />• A draft version of the plan will be available for public comment in early October, <br />2024. <br />• To help facilitate public comment on the draft plan, our consultant recommends <br />that we host virtual meetings, which are currently scheduled for October 9th, 2024. <br />We plan to advertise the virtual meeting and opportunities to provide public <br />comment utilizing a press release and social media and will encourage other <br />participating jurisdictions to help publicize these opportunities as well. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />FEMA approved and locally adopted mitigation plans are a requirement for local <br />governments, (including special districts) to be eligible for projects funded under the <br />Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs. These grant programs include the <br />Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities <br />(BRIC) Program and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program. As part of FEMA's <br />approval process, mitigation plans must be reviewed and updated every five <br />(5) years and formally adopted by each participating jurisdiction's governing body. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />FEMA requires that the public be provided with opportunities for involvement during the <br />planning process. Public outreach opportunities were initiated during the 2023 Kittitas <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />